Barclay Goodrow, one of the players at the Detroit Red Wings Development Camp, averaged 29 goals the last the three seasons for Brampton of the OHL.Brampton Battalion

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. – The annual Development Camp gives the
Detroit Red Wings a chance to get a look at their newest draft picks while
seeing first-hand how players from past years have progressed in the last 12 months.

But it also allows them to take a look at players who went
undrafted. The Red Wings don't want to let a future NHL player slip through the
cracks if possible so they make sure to at least get one good look at anybody
with potential.

Of the 38 players who took part in this year's Development
Camp – which ended Monday at Centre Ice Arena – 16 were camp
invites and none put up better numbers last season than forward Barclay
Goodrow.

Goodrow scored 38 goals and had 14 assists in 62 games for
Brampton of the Ontatio Hockey League last season. In his last three seasons
with Brampton, the 6-foot-2, 214-pound Goodrow averaged 29 goals and 47 points
yet he was bypassed in all seven rounds of this year's NHL Draft.

How come?

"I'm sure 30 teams had 30 different reasons why," said Red
Wings director of player development Jiri Fischer. "For some reason, guys don't
get drafted. At the end of the day, guys' careers aren't over based on free
agents who keep plugging along. Keep proving yourself every day. That's what Barclay is going to have to do.

"He's scored a lot of goals. We knew he can score. He's
scoring here, too. He's in good shape. He needs to improve his skating. I think
he knows that. He needs to improve his pace, moving around the rink. We're
going to let him know what we expect. We're going to follow him.

"We're certainly looking at everybody here. Barclay is one
of them. Everybody who is here, we're going to follow them."

When the Red Wings assess how things went at the Development Camp, Goodrow could be one of the players they invite back to Traverse
City for the Prospects Tournament in September, when players will get a better
opportunity to show their skills under actual game conditions.

That's obviously what Goodrow is hoping for.

"I just try to do the best I can and if a team likes what
they see then they'll take me," he said. "I'm just trying to use (not being
drafted) as motivation to get better and have a good year next year, where ever
that is.

"I was hoping to (get drafted) obviously but I wasn't
expected too much in case it didn't happen. But once the draft was done, my
focus was on this camp."

Goodrow, 20, said the Development Camp was a good experience
as he embarks on a possible pro career.

"It's been great," he said. "I learned a lot so far. I'm
taking in as much information as possible. I've worked hard in the gym. I put
up some good numbers in what they've been assessing and I've been just trying
to be a good player on the ice and show what I can do out there.

"They said a couple scouts had watched me play and liked
what they see. They like my size and my skill. I've been just trying to play
like that kind of player here."